Things changed for Mike since that weekend. He became comfortable hanging out with Zoey, even letting her sleep with him instead of on the couch every night. And ever since her arm healed, he didn't mind when she cuddled next to him.
Zoey also changed as well. After a few weeks, her hair was done in a messy updo. Mike wasn't sure why she did that. He liked it better when her hair was down. But he learned what was going on the hard way...
It all started one morning. Mike was wearing a pink robe and light yellow flip flops. He was happily whistling to himself as he headed for the bathroom.
Once he got in the shower, he took off his robe and flip flops before he turned on the water. He sighed as the warm water was on his muscular body.
As he got some shampoo, he started thinking about Zoey's hair. He remember how it smelled like coconuts one morning and how much he wanted to feel the soft red lock between his fingers. He ended up gushing over the young orphan as he washed his own hair.
"She's all I think about," Mike thought. "She's super nice and beautiful. I wonder if she'll go out with a guy like me." Then he realized what he just thought. "What am I thinking? There's no way she'll go out with a guy like me!"
"Morning Mike," Cameron said as he entered the bathroom.
"Oh yeah," Mike thought. "I forgot about the guys. Good thing I know how I can make sure I have the whole day to worry about Zoey and get rid of any bad thoughts about her." Then he coughed.
"Mike, are you okay?" Cameron asked as he used the toilet.
"I don't feel well," Mike said in a false sick voice. "Maybe I'm getting sick."
Meanwhile, Zoey was in the kitchen making French toast. She was still in her sleepwear and her hair and in the usual messy updo style she used lately. However, Cameron, who was already dressed for the day, ran out of his bedroom. He looked a bit concerned.
"Morning Cameron," Zoey said. "Would you like some French toast?"
"Not today," Cameron said as he gave Zoey her tan wedged sandals. "We need to leave NOW."
"Why?" Zoey asked as she put on her sandals.
"You'll thank me later," Cameron said as he grabbed Zoey's wrist and dragged her out of her apartment.
Soon, Cameron got Zoey to drive Mike's car over to Scott's place. It was a large trailer that was the size of a house and parked next to a swamp (like Mike told her on the day she met the guys).
"Why are we here?" Zoey asked as she and Cameron got out of the car and approached the trailer.
"We need to let Scott know," Cameron explained. "Then we need to stop by Sam's apartment afterwards." Then he knocked on the door.
The door opened, revealing an elderly man holding a wooden cane. He was apparently Scott's grandfather. "Aye, nice to see you again, Cameron," he said in a thick Irish accent. "And this young lassie must be this Zoey girl me boy's been talking about."
"Hi Mr. Westfield," Cameron said. "Is Scott home?"
"Of course he is!" Mr. Westfield said with a smile. "Why don't you come on in? Scotty's in the kitchen handling some unwanted visitors."
In the kitchen, Scott was tightly holding a wooden bat. "Here little rats," he said. "Come on out, you pesky rodents."
As Cameron and Zoey arrived, Scott saw a rat near the refrigerator. He ran over to it and whacked it to death.
"Scott, we have a problem," Cameron said.
"Can't you see I'm busy?" Scott asked.
"But Mike's sick again," Cameron explained.
"Wait, you brought me out head because Mike is suddenly ill?" Zoey asked Cameron.
"It's for the best," Cameron told Zoey. "Mike can take care of himself when he feels under the weather, but he doesn't want me, Scott, and Sam hanging out with him."
"But don't worry, he always recovers by tomorrow," Scott continued. "The next day, he'll be back to normal and watching some episodes of Babylon 5 on his DVDs."
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm heading back to the apartment," Zoey said. "Mike shouldn't be taking care of himself if he really is sick." Then she left the trailer.
"So, what's the plan for today?" Scott asked Cameron.
"I heard the movies are having a Planet of the Apes marathon," Cameron answered. "It's a start, but we can figure out what happens next after the movies."
"Perfect!" Scott happily said. "I'll see if pappy can let me borrow the family pickup truck and we're good to go."
At the apartment, Zoey was in for a huge surprise. Instead of seeing Mike watching Babylon 5 on the couch looking ill, he was playing Rock Band and he looked perfectly healthy. He was wearing a large white t-shirt and his black boxers. His hair looked like he didn't use his Axe products today. And as he sang, Zoey noticed he clearly looked depressed about something.
You said, you don't know me
And you don't even care
Oh yeah
Well you said, you don't know me
And you don't, wear my chains
Oh yeah
"Mike?" Zoey asked.
Mike froze in shock. "Oh...hi, Zoey," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"I was going to take care of you while you were still sick," Zoey said. "But you made a quick recovery after a few minutes."
"Oh, yeah..." Mike said with a nervous laugh. "About that... I wasn't really sick in the first place. I was just faking it so I can have the whole day to myself. I do it all the time."
"You fake being ill so you can have your own you-day?" Zoey asked. "I better call Cameron to let him know." She approached the phone, but Mike stopped her from dialing.
"Wait!" Mike said. "You can't tell Cameron, Scott, and Sam!"
"How come?" Zoey asked.
"I've been lying to these guys ever since I joined their group of friends," Mike explained. "They're going to be mad at me if they found out I wasn't sick the whole time."
"Okay then," Zoey said. "So what's wrong this time?"
"I-I can't tell you," Mike stammered. "It's a bit embarrassing..."
"Does it have to do with me?" Zoey asked. "Are you in love with me?"
"I didn't say it was about you!" Mike blurted out. "Who said I was worried about you feeling the same way about you, or you would mind if I smelled your beautiful coconut-scented hair?"
Zoey couldn't help but blush at the compliment. "You think I'm beautiful?" she asked.
"I didn't say that!" Mike blurted out again, but the blush on his cheeks were proof that Zoey was right.
"Tell you what," Zoey said. "How about I take you dancing at a local dance club?"
"Are you crazy?" Mike asked. "The guys will see us!"
"No they won't," Zoey said. "I drove passed the movie theater on the way here and I noticed the sign was advertising a Planet of the Apes marathon. The guys are going to be stuck there for a drew hours."
"Oh, alright," Mike said as he turned off the game counsel. "I'm in."
